33 Arch Street

Infobox Skyscraper
building_name=33 Arch Street
location=33 Arch Street, Boston, Massachusetts
roof=477 ft (145 m)
floor_count=33
built=2004
use=Office
architect=Elkus / Manfredi Architects Ltd.
developer=Congress Group Ventures

33 Arch Street is a contemporary highrise in the Financial District and Downtown Crossing neighborhoods of Boston, Massachusetts. [ [http://www.33arch.com/views.asp 33 Arch Street ] ] The building was completed in 2004 after three years of construction which began on June 5, 2001. It is tied with the State Street Bank Building as Boston's 19th-tallest building, standing 477 feet (145 m) tall, and housing 33 floors. The 33rd floor is 392 feet (119 m) above grade and the top of the cooling tower screen is 429 feet (131 m) above grade.http://www.wai.com/Structures/Tall/33arch.html] It was designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects.

Details

The entrance to the building stands directly opposite the Boston Stock Exchange and features a glass canopy to mark the entrance .The building has views of Boston Common, the Charles River, City Hall Plaza, and Boston Harbor. 33 Arch Street offers over 600,000 square feet (56,000 m²) of office space and has 850 parking spaces [ [http://www.33arch.com/property.asp 33 Arch Street ] ] in its underground parking garage.

The building is a unique wing shaped http://www.wai.com/Structures/Projects/HIGHRISE.HTM] to maximize the use of its tight footprint . The building strikes a balance with its surroundings and neighboring buildings through the use of the granite stone facade used to add to continuity of the urban streetscape. Yet, it is distinct from its neighbors by the use extensive use of metal and glass in its exterior.

The building facade features grey granite, glass and aluminum cladding. [ [http://www.permasteelisa-cs.com/ext-33arch.html PERMASTEELISA USA | Building the Future ] ] . Twenty floors cantilever over adjacent retail space and garage which is connected to parking on first six levels. . The roof has a distinctive top [ [http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2003/04/07/focus1.html The future of Boston's skyline - Boston Business Journal: ] ] that sets it apart from nearby flat roofs against the skyline. It features curved penthouse and roof fins.

The building uses four levels of external bracing transfer the enormous loads of the high building into the small base. The bracing continues through the parking levels to the foundation; perimeter and internal moment frames act as the lateral system above the braced levels. The building was the first to be built in downtown Boston under new Safety Guidelines-Subpart R for steel. [http://www.bovislendlease.com/llweb/bll/main.nsf/images/pdf_interlink_dec_04.pdf/$file/pdf_interlink_dec_04.pdf]

History

The builders had proposed a transparent glass building but ran into opposition from the historic Old South Meeting House [ [http://www.boston.com/beyond_bigdig/news/artery_032600.htm Boston.com / Beyond The Big Dig / News ] ]

When the building was completed, it had a hard time finding tenants due to an office space glut and stood vacant [http://houston.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/boston/content/printable.html?story_id=886620] upon completion [http://boston.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/boston/content/story.html?id=917749&t=email_story] . By 2005, 56% of the office place was rented [http://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/boston/content/story.html?story_id=1041120] and the average rent on a monthly parking space was $350 [http://www.gvaboston.com/images/BMO%202005.pdf] . Tenants included the primary tenant, Digitas, LLC, as well as the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Education [http://rejournal.com/Archives/uploads/pdfs/4_29_05.pdf] and DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP, one of the world’s leading law firms, on the buildings top two floors. [http://rejournal.com/Archives/uploads/pdfs/10_14_05.pdf]

Design and Construction Team

*Architect: Elkus/Manfredi Architects, Ltd.
*Engineer: Weidlinger Associates, Inc.
*Developer: Congress Group Ventures
*General Contractor: Bovis Lend Lease LMB/Congress Group Construction Joint Venture
*Interior Construction: Spaulding & Slye Construction, a member of the Jones Lang LaSalle group [ [http://www.us.am.joneslanglasalle.com/en-US/news/2006/Q1/S+and+S+Construction+completes.htm S and S Construction completes - United States ] ]
*Curtainwall: Gordon H. Smith Corporation
*Drywall: T.J. McCartney, Inc. [ [http://www.tjminc.com/default.asp?pgid=5 Completed Projects by T.J. McCartney: Drywall, Light Gauge Metal Framing, and Carpentry ] ]

ee also

* List of tallest buildings in Boston

External links

* [http://www.33archstreet.com/default.asp 33 Arch Street official building site]
* [http://www.elkus-manfredi.com/corbld.html Elkus Manfredi]
* [http://www.33arch.com/views.asp Views from top floors]
* — with photos
* [http://www.architects.org/emplibrary/ChapterLetter_May_06.pdf Photo by Robert Benson of Stubbins Associates interior design of Digitas Inc.’s office]
* [http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=33archstreet-boston-ma-usa Emporis.com]

References